Green Day's American Idiot makes premiere at Houston's Hobby Center

Billie Joe Armstrong talks about the context of Green Day's American Idiot album.

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AMERICAN IDIOT, the explosive show touted by The New York Times as “wonderfully raucous” and “emotionally charged” will premiere on March 21-23 for the Gexa Energy Broadway at the Hobby Center series.

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This Broadway hit, described by the Boston Globe as “flat out electrifying,” was a 2010 Tony Award nominated Best Musical and 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album. AMERICAN IDIOT features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer, Billie Joe Armstrong. The book is by Armstrong and Michael Mayer.

This is the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world. The musical ran on Broadway from March 2010 to April 2011, and later the national tour, which launched December 2011 in Toronto.

“Since its inception, audiences have been surprised by the emotional journey the show takes them on, told almost exclusively through Green Day’s songs, including many they are already familiar with and love,” said Tom Hulce, producer. “This is such a potent time for our country and the search of our characters for what to believe in is gorgeously celebrated through Billie Joe and Green Day’s wonderfully lush score,” he added.

AMERICAN IDIOT features the hits “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “21 Guns,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Holiday” and the blockbuster title track “American Idiot” from Green Day’s 2004 Grammy® Award-winning, multi-platinum album. Also included in the score are several songs from Green Day’s 2009 release “21st Century Breakdown,” and an unreleased love song, “When It’s Time.”

The musical premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2009 and played through November of that year. In April 2010, the musical opened on Broadway where reviews were unanimously positive with Charles Isherwood of the New York Times calling the show “the most adventurous musical to brave Broadway in the past decade” and the Toronto Star naming it “the first great musical of the 21st century!”

Ticket prices start at $35 and will be available at the Hobby Center box office at 800 Bagby, all TicketMaster outlets, by visiting BroadwayAtTheHobbyCenter.com or TheHobbyCenter.org or by calling (800) 982- ARTS. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling (888)451-5986 or e-mail houston.groups@broadwayacrossamerica.com.

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Valerie Sweeten, a mother of four in her hometown, Houston, has over 20 years experience in the print media. Over the years, she has covered bios and features on everyone to award winners to burdgeoning businesses and up and coming notable people. Restaurants, chefs,artists, theatre and diverse activities are consistent stories in this town where palates and tastes are diverse as the cultures here she's discovered. Contact sweeten4@sbcglobal.net.